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The ReMINDers will get to celebrate their victory at the Boulder Theater this Friday.

Before I get started on one of my invariably contentious weekly rants, I first want to send irrefutable congratulations to the winners of the 2010 Pikes Peak Arts Council Awards. Firstly, the ReMINDers, quite possibly the most positive force to blip the national hip-hop radar in more than a decade, are taking home the award for "Popular Music: Outstanding Solo or Duo," beating out the exceptional elder bluesmen Big Jim Adam and John Stilwagen, as well as that young hellhound nipping at their heels, Grant Sabin.

The ReMINDers, aka MCs Big Samir and Aja Black, two of the kindest and most intelligent people you could ever hope to hear make music, will be enlightening the Boulder Theater this Friday, Oct. 1, with Nu Revolution, Les Nubians and Soulaju. You can find more info on the show, and on the duo, at myspace.com/theremindersfam.

And in the category of "Popular Music: Outstanding Group," a field that included formidable competition from both Tango Red Tapestry and the Haunted Windchimes, the award went to the ridiculously, and meticulously, amazing El Toro de la Muerte, whose deceptively powerful, complex and intricately formulated indie/rock compositions continue to develop and mature with every listen. Well done, gents! I believe I speak on behalf of the entire "scene" when I say that we just can't wait to hear the new CD (scheduled for release on New Year's), and to see what songs you end up playing as the Rolling Stones at your annual Halloween show. (I trust "Sympathy for the Devil" is already on the list.) For more, hit bullofdeath.com.

And to get additional info on the Pikes Peak Arts Council and the annual Awards for Excellence, a progressively more intense and important competition in a progressively more intense and important arts community, please visit pikespeakartscouncil.org.

So, up next, I do have some bad news for those of you who were eagerly awaiting this Saturday's Triple Nickel Tavern performance by Trainwreck, the Spinal Tap-goes-country-fried-rock 'n roll comedy band led by Tenacious D's Kyle Gass. Turns out the tour has been derailed.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances," the band wrote on its Facebook page earlier this week, "the remainder of our Transcontinental Railroad tour has been cancelled." The band's publicist tells us no further reason was given.

Still, fans can drown their sorrows by reading our new interview with Gass — which has understandably been relegated to "online-only" status — on the IndyBlog, and by repeatedly viewing the video for "Brodeo," their "ballsy" ode to the "sausage party," at trainwreckwithkg.com. No chicks allowed!

But don't worry, ladies, I am sure they would love to have you at the Rubbish Gallery on Tuesday, Oct. 5. Indie folk rambler Paleo (aka David Strackany) will play some of his really pretty songs, and our own Dear Rabbit (Rence and Friends) and Briffaut (Daniel Eaton) will do the same. And if there is one thing I know about chicks ...